NIA Tero Foundation
Nia Tero Foundation is a Seattle-based public charity that supports Indigenous Peoples’ guardianship of ancestral lands and waters. The organization was established in 2017 and says its purpose is to directly support Indigenous Peoples’ guardianship and elevate Indigenous Peoples’ role in sustaining planetary health and habitability.
NIA Tero Foundation at a glance
In short: NIA Tero Foundation gave $4.0M across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $159K), mostly in California. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,975,304
- +20.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- -35.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $159,012
- +87.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $80,555,234
- -11.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (10 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to NIA Tero Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 900 E Pine St 200, Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: (206) 339-1293
Website: https://niatero.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who NIA Tero Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Amazon Frontlines ($644K). Together the top 10 received $3.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
175 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 175 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Nia Tero’s website describes support for Indigenous organizations and trusted allies in Africa, Amazonia, the Pasifik and North America. Its 2024 filing identifies the Pacific Islands, Amazonia and North America as initial regions for place-anchored partnerships. The organization says its support helps protect more than 130 million hectares of lands and waters.
In 2024, half of reported grant dollars went to recipients in California, 22% to New York, 13% to Delaware, 6% to Montana and 3% to Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is NIA Tero Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 25 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $111K; repeat grants $191K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $125K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.0M (2021) to $4.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $4.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Frontlines San Francisco, CA | Support Indigenous Guardianship in the Amazon | $644,000 |
| Conservation Agreement Fund Lewes, DE | Support Indigenous Led Conservation Efforts | $500,000 |
| RSF Social Finance Inc San Francisco, CA | Support Indigenous Practice and Wisdom | $410,000 |
| Land Is Life Inc Brooklyn, NY | Support Indigenous Led Security | $380,000 |
| One Reef Worldwide Stewardship Santa Cruz, CA | Support Indigenous Guardianship Pacific Islands | $350,000 |
| Blackfeet Eco Knowledge Browning, MT | Support Indigenous Practice and Wisdom | $253,590 |
| If Not US Then Who Topanga, CA | Support Indigenous Participation at Global Events | $240,125 |
| Office of the Un High Commissioner for Human Rights New York, NY | Support Indigenous Led Global Policy & Advocacy | $223,089 |
| DTWO Ltd San Francisco, CA | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) Sacramento, CA | Support Indigenous Led Conservation Efforts | $150,000 |
Ready to take the next step with NIA Tero Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $80,555,234 | $32,904,805 | $42,466,297 | $3,975,304 | 25 | $2,868,655 |
| 2023 | $91,187,634 | $26,173,466 | $43,070,792 | $3,307,755 | 39 | $2,666,866 |
| 2022 | $105,816,478 | $21,750,393 | $33,840,873 | $4,055,000 | 34 | $1,754,237 |
| 2021 | $122,230,625 | $17,047,246 | $24,943,464 | $2,983,930 | 40 | $252,122 |
| 2020 | $126,478,550 | $4,303,474 | $17,516,724 | $3,778,543 | 37 | $893,978 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Nia Tero’s mission is to directly support Indigenous Peoples’ guardianship and elevate the role and influence of Indigenous Peoples as essential to planetary health and habitability. Its 2024 filing describes place-anchored partnerships, grantmaking and technical support to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ security, self-governance and policy frameworks, as well as storytelling and communications to increase recognition of Indigenous guardianship. The organization also says it develops ways to assess partnership impacts using social, ecological and Indigenous-partner-defined measures of well-being.
Nia Tero provides grants, contracts and technical assistance to Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and networks, as well as their trusted allies. Its website identifies work in Africa, Amazonia, the Pasifik and North America, alongside policy and storytelling initiatives at regional, national and global levels. Its Africa work, launched in 2024, prioritizes land rights and governance, cultural revitalization, leadership development and cross-border collaboration.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of partners. Amazon Frontlines describes its mission as building power with Indigenous Peoples to defend their rights to land, life and cultural survival in the Amazon rainforest. Land is Life says it works toward recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to self-determination and collective ownership of their territories, lands, resources and knowledge. Blackfeet Eco Knowledge describes its work as reviving and preserving Indigenous traditional knowledge systems and passing that knowledge to future generations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Nia Tero reported 25 grants totaling $3,975,304. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $644,000, with a median of $80,000. Grant purposes included Indigenous guardianship, Indigenous-led conservation, security, global policy and advocacy, and participation at global events.
Among the largest reported grants were $644,000 to Amazon Frontlines for Indigenous guardianship in the Amazon; $500,000 to Conservation Agreement Fund for Indigenous-led conservation; $410,000 to RSF Social Finance Inc for Indigenous practice and wisdom; $380,000 to Land is Life Inc for Indigenous-led security; and $350,000 to One Reef Worldwide Stewardship for Indigenous guardianship in the Pacific Islands. Other listed awards included $253,590 to Blackfeet Eco Knowledge and $240,125 to If Not Us Then Who.
Nia Tero says it evaluates prospective grantees’ financial and programmatic capacity using a risk-based approach. Its filing describes reviewing proposals and budgets, and monitoring awards through technical and financial reports, regular online meetings and, where applicable, site visits.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Peter Seligmann as chief executive officer; Joseph Williams as chair; and Myrna Cunningham Kain as vice-chair. Directors listed were Jupta Itoewaki, Victoria Tauli Corpuz, Anne Marie Burgoyne, Michael Crow, Yo-Yo Ma, Nemonte Nenquimo and Brenda Pipestem. Itoewaki’s listing notes service from October 2024.
NIA Tero Foundation is led by Peter Seligmann, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 9 of 21 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter Seligmann
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$550K (2020) → $740K (2024)
Joseph Williams
Chair
Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Rothschild
Senior Director & Partnerships
Senior Partnership Lead → Senior Director & Partnerships, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$191K (2020) → $232K (2024)
Jessica Schroeder
Senior Md, Director & Operations
Managing Director & Operations → Senior Md, Secretary, Treasurer & From, 2023
Senior Md, Secretary, Treasurer & From → Senior Md, Director & Operations, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$185K (2020) → $277K (2024)
Lauren Guzauskas
Md Director & Development
Managing Director & Development → Md & Development, 2023
Md & Development → Md Director & Development, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$206K (2021) → $241K (2024)
David Cook
Senior Director, Strategy & Planning
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$225K (2024)
Jonathan Davis
Senior Director of Finance
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$227K (2024)
Brenda Pipestem
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Starr
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Crow
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nemonte Nenquimo
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Tauli Corpuz
Director
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nainoa Thomson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yo-Yo Ma
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Marie Burgoyne
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liam Kokaua
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jupta Itoewaki
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Filardi
Chief Program Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$307K (2020) → $357K (2024)
Margarita Mora Teran
Senior Md & Partnerships
Managing Director & Partnerships → Senior Managing Director & Partnerships, 2022
Senior Managing Director & Partnerships → Senior Md & Partnerships, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$219K (2020) → $279K (2024)
Tina-Marie Wilhelm
Chief Strategy & Ext. Affairs Officer
Cseao & From → Chief Strategy & Ext. Affairs Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$90K (2023) → $386K (2024)
Myrna Cunningham Kain
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Leigh Morgan (2020–2023) — Csoo
- Former: Marc Ballandras (2020–2023) — Director of Innovation & Infrastructure
- Former: Paul Klingenstein (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Tracy Rector (2020–2023) — Md & Storytelling
- Former: Michael Painter (2021–2023) — Md, Impact & Learning
- Former: Laurene Powell Jobs (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mandy Bayha (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Morris (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $740K, to Peter Seligmann (Chief Executive Officer). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about NIA Tero Foundation
How much does NIA Tero Foundation give each year?
NIA Tero Foundation gave $4.0M across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.3M across 39 grants.
What is NIA Tero Foundation's typical grant size?
NIA Tero Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $80,000, and its average grant was $159,012, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from NIA Tero Foundation that year got $111K on average.
Where does NIA Tero Foundation give grants?
NIA Tero Foundation gives mostly in California: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (22%) and Delaware (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants), Seattle, WA (3 grants), Brooklyn, NY (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does NIA Tero Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of NIA Tero Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Support Indigenous Practice and Wisdom" (6 grants), "Support Indigenous Led Conservation Efforts" (3 grants) and "Support Indigenous Led Global Policy & Advocacy" (3 grants).
Who are NIA Tero Foundation's largest grantees?
NIA Tero Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Amazon Frontlines ($644,000), Conservation Agreement Fund ($500,000) and RSF Social Finance Inc ($410,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is NIA Tero Foundation?
NIA Tero Foundation reported $80.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $32.9M.
What does NIA Tero Foundation fund?
Nia Tero’s mission is to directly support Indigenous Peoples’ guardianship and elevate the role and influence of Indigenous Peoples as essential to planetary health and habitability. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from NIA Tero Foundation?
NIA Tero Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check niatero.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is NIA Tero Foundation's EIN?
NIA Tero Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1949563. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). NIA Tero Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nia-tero-foundation-morg_0cd1fcee18484541b62d02f00f3a66f0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_821949563_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{NIA Tero Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nia-tero-foundation-morg_0cd1fcee18484541b62d02f00f3a66f0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from NIA Tero Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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